FORKS — The Neah Bay football team twice rallied from a second-half deficit, then shut down Mossyrock in the fourth quarter to win its District 1/2/3/4 1B district playoff game 50-40, qualifying for a berth in the 1B state tournament.
Mossyrock held leads of 28-20 and 34-28 late in the third quarter, but the Red Devils seized control of the game with a 22-6 run at the end of the game to win. Neah Bay held the Vikings scoreless in the fourth quarter to hang on for the victory.
Julian Carrick had four touchdown runs and a touchdown pass in the win, but coach Kane Bachelor said the big star of the game was someone who doesn’t get a lot of statistics — Andre Greene at defensive tackle.
“He was our player of the game. He played angry. He showed leadership. He matched Mossyrock’s physicality all night,” Bachelor said.
Carrick finished the game with 319 yards rushing on 23 carries. He also completed eight passes for 78 yards. Bowechop had five catches for 58 yards and ran five times for 31 yards. Adan Ellis had two catches for 19 yards.
Mossyrock came in to the game a No. 7 seed and a 5-6 record, but gave the Red Devils all they could handle.
“Hats off and all credit to Mossyrock. They came out and played playoff football,” Bachelor said.
Bachelor said Neah Bay had a number of kids injured early in the game who were able to come back in and contribute late in the game. He said much of the credit for shutting out Mossyrock over the final quarter goes to Greene.
“That was Andre. He had an amazing fourth quarter,” Bachelor said. Greene had 10 tackles total while Kaeden Butterfield finished with 16 tackles.
Julian Carrick had a pair of 46-yard touchdown runs and a five-yard TD pass to Neil Bowechop to take a 20-14 lead early in the second quarter.
The Vikings responded by scoring 14 straight points to take a 28-20 lead into halftime.
In the third quarter, Carrick had an 85-yard TD run and Jodell Wimberly added a 3-yard TD and a 1-yard TD run as the Red Devils were able to take a 42-40 lead into the fourth quarter. The score remained close until Carrick scored a crucial touchdown with 4:49 left to play. He then passed to Ellis for a two-point conversion to give the Red Devils a much-needed two-score lead.
Neah Bay twice held Mossyrock on fourth-down plays in the fourth quarter to preserve the win.
The Red Devils (5-2) now move on to the 1B state tournament, which begins Friday. Bachelor said Neah Bay will learn sometime this afternoon what seed it has been given and whether the Red Devils will get a first-round bye. If Neah Bay does get a first-round bye, the Red Devils won’t play at state until Nov. 19 or 20.
